Gills U18’s put in a strong performance to defeat Whitstable Town 3-1 at the Belmont Stadium on Saturday.
Taite Holtam started in goal with Louie Dayal and Jimmy Heasman starting the game in support of striker Harry Bridle.
The opening exchanges were fairly even with neither goalkeeper being sufficiently tested, however the visitors were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes when a Trialist was fouled inside the box, and Bridle made no mistake in converting the resulting spot-kick.
Holtam did well to parry away a shot before Gills doubled their lead. Dayal squared a good ball for Heasman who, from close range, prodded home with the keeper given no chance.
Dayal and Bridle went close before the break but couldn’t secure a decisive third goal.
H/T: Whitstable Town 0-2 Gillingham
It took until the hour mark for Gills to finally grab their third of the afternoon. Trialist provided the assist and Dayal was clinical from close range to all but secure the win.
Whitstable did pull one back courtesy of a Bobby Dunn free-kick, and Joe Orpwood came close to doing something similar 20 minutes later, however Dan Colmer made an excellent stop.
F/T: Whitstable Town 1-3 Gillingham
Whitstable XI: Colmer, Aboagye, Boulton, West, O’Mara, Thomas, Dainkeh, Trialist, Smith, Dos Santos, Akanni
Gills: Holtam, Trialist, Dobbs, Broadbent (Trialist 46), Walker (Silva 68), Orpwood, Luxton (Kingston 82), Dayal, Beszant, Heasman (Francis 80), Bridle (Clark 56)
Unused subs: Sullivan, Trialist
Referee: Mr S Finnigan
Attendance: 519
